- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
2nd Trimester
Erinm278
member
I need some support/advice..Colposcopy during pregnancy
Erinm278
member
I went for a Doctor's appointment yesterday and we did the normal baby check stuff. The great news is he baby looks and sounds great.
The bad news was he wanted to "take a look" at my cervix because of my abnormal pap. I knew it would be abnormal because of my history with HPV. He told me he wouldn't biopsy unless he saw something disturbing. Well, he saw something disturbing and I was so upset. I told him I didn't want to bipsy while I'm pregnant. He said we could redo the pap in 6 weeks and if it was high risk then he would have to.
We left the appointment and I was so upset. I cried all the way home because I was so terrified. Once I got home I called the Doctor and told them we could go ahead with the biopsy because I would rather do it now than when I'm 30 weeks pregnant. It is scheduled for the 16th. Now I can't stop thinking the worst. The Doctor said that chances are it will come back fine, but there is always a chance. I'm just terrified that I have cancer or that all of this will hurt my baby.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Any advice?
Anything you ladies can share would be helpful becuase I'm just so upset right now. I cried all night.
Baby girl #1 7/11/13
Baby girl #2 4/30/15
Baby Boy Due 2/16/19!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: I need some support/advice..Colposcopy during pregnancy
They really should not be doing a colposcopy when you're pregnant. I'm surprised that they even will. A colposcopy does have the potential to cause complications during pregnancy/L&D. Is there any way to put that off longer?
My doctor said it was safe and wouldn't hurt the baby. I asked him if we could put it off but he said he would recommend doing it now because the cells look very abnormal.
Baby girl #1 7/11/13
Baby girl #2 4/30/15
Baby Boy Due 2/16/19!
Joy- Thank you for the response. I have had a Colpo and biopsy before (maybe 4-5 years ago) and the results were fine but the experience was a negative one. The Doctor explained to me that if I need to have a LEEP procedure done that it will be done after the baby and after I recover from the birth.
I will read your blog though. I'm trying to get as much information as possible about this.
Baby girl #1 7/11/13
Baby girl #2 4/30/15
Baby Boy Due 2/16/19!
A colposcopy isn't just "taking a look." They will take a biopsy which can have it's own complications in labor, when scar tissue from the biopsy of your cervix can stall labor, as your cervix has a more difficult time to properly dilate.
I had a colposcopy years ago, and that was a concern of the OBs when I was delivering DS.
My doctor told me he was going to take a sample to test. He said it would be smaller than a grain of rice. He didn't say anything about it complicating labor but I will ask him.
Baby girl #1 7/11/13
Baby girl #2 4/30/15
Baby Boy Due 2/16/19!
A colposcopy does not equal a biopsy. I should know, I've had several throughout my adult life. Several colpos, less biopsies, no LEEP.
Here is a quote from Women's Health (not the most reliable, but still more reliable than some users here...)
Colposcopy is a simple, 10- to 15-minute procedure that is painless and performed in a gynecologist's office. You are positioned on the examination table like you are for a Pap smear, and an acetic acid (such as common table vinegar) is placed on the cervix.
Your physician will use a colposcope -- a large, electric microscope that is positioned approximately 30 cm from the vagina -- to view your cervix. A bright light on the end of the colposcope lets the gynecologist clearly see the cervix.
Video - The Colposcopy Exam
During the colposcopy, the gynecologist focuses on the areas of the cervix where light does not pass through. Abnormal cervical changes are seen as white areas -- the whiter the area, the worse the cervical dysplasia. Abnormal vascular (blood vessel) changes are also apparent through the colposcope. Typically, the worse that the vascular changes are, the worse the dysplasia.
Source: https://womenshealth.about.com/cs/cevicalconditions/a/colposcopy.htm (I suggest you view the LEEP, Cone Biopsy and Cryotherapy links at the bottom.)
THEN, they might have to do a biopsy, which I had while 15ish weeks pregnant, because there were more white areas than anything else (turned out minor, and will be treated after birth, if it's still there). Your physician knows what he's doing, you're not the first pregnant patient he is dealing with, and they will never endanger your child to be, even if there is concern for your own health, without giving you actual facts so that you are able to make an informed decision.
This is 100% NOT true. A colposcopy is fine while pregnant and will not cause complications during pregnancy.
ETA: Also colposcopy does not equal biopsy. A biopsy is separate.
I am sorry you have to go through this! I have no experience with any of this, but I did have melanoma earlier this year so I know how scary it can be to find out that you could or do have cancer. I have to get checked every month during pregnancy and I am so scared every time I go.
If it were me I would get a second opinion if I was concerned. With my melanoma I met with two surgeons before having my surgery because I just wanted to make sure they agreed with a course of treatment. I don't know if that's something you want to do, but may be worth it to give you some extra piece of mind. It really helped me to calm down and especially with the added stress and worry of the pregnancy may be helpful.
I came to this board to post the same questions. I had a postive HPV 6 months ago, I had to do a follow up pap, and I just got the results yesterday and the dr wants to do a colposcopy, I am very conflicted. Part of me says wait till I have the baby, part of me says take care of it now. I am not worried about the colposcopy alone, I am worried he would want to do a curative biopsy , i.e. shaving the abnormal cells. His nurse didn't think he would do that while I was pregnant, but I am still concerned.
I am getting a second/third opinion from my aunt and FIL who are both OBGs.
Then my last OB/GYN was BSC and caused concern where there wasn't concern to be had.
OP, good luck.
My colposcopy was very very similar to a pap. She was in and out in no time. I spotted for the rest of the afternoon/evening, and that was it.
GOOD LUCK
I had this done during this pregnancy just a few weeks ago. Like you, my pap came back abnormal and they wanted a closer look. With mine, they ended up doing a biopsy as well. And yes, after the procedure, I too was freaking out.
Fast forward about a week from the biopsy, and everything turned out fine. And fast forward to today, I had my a/s and my baby is perfectly healthy as well.
I do understand how nerve racking it is though- but hang in there. Knowing what is going on with your body is always better than not knowing.
Have you had this done before? I know for me, this was probably about the 4th time I had a colpo and my 4th biopsy as well. Mine have always come back as no further action needed- they just keep wanting to keep an eye on what is going on.
Talk to your doctor about some of your specific concerns, and remember, more than non-doctors on the internet, your trained, professional doctor will know best and will know the risks and benefits of any procedure better than the average pregnant person.
I really appreciate reading your story. I have had a colpo with biopsy before but I was worried about it during my pregnancy. My doctor has told me it will be fine so I'm going ahead with it.
Baby girl #1 7/11/13
Baby girl #2 4/30/15
Baby Boy Due 2/16/19!